Editorial [ Think and Act Globally ]

Our profession is devoted to obtain the wellbeing of those assisted by us but we should be more concerned about the relief of those with major needs. Global health is a major concern of many health sectors on the view that the more deprived populations in the world have an unacceptable low standard of health. In order to obtain an equitable distribution of health care, finding out better solutions and translation of the current knowledge to deprived populations is imperative. In this Journal, we are willing to publish review of interventions that can be broadly applied to low and middle income countries. Also, we are very pleased if any review will be received for publication stating that what is the condition of health care in the developing world. If the review addresses an intervention we would be pleased with the authors providing information about the implementation and results obtained with this intervention in deprived populations. In this issue, Haram and coworkers updated a severe problem in developing countries such as fetuses who suffered an intrauterine growth restriction. Around 27.6 million of fetal growth retarded infants are born every year around the world and from these about 26.6 millions (96.4%) are born in developing countries. This article reveals the consequences that fetal growth impairment would have in the survival and the quality of life of these newborns. Furthermore, these newborns, on growing up into adults females, will have a greater chance to deliver an IUGR newborn, implying a vicious circle or intrauterine growth restriction. Several studies have shown that there are two types of IUGR depending on the intrauterine period where growth is impaired. Those having a chronic growth insult are the ones showing significantly poor performance. Populations in developing countries have a higher incidence of chronically malnourished neonates within their IUGR population. We hope that this Journal could serve as an instrument to provide information not only to health providers but also to health stakeholders, thereby contributing to highlight the major global health needs and to offer review of interventions that can be broadly applied to relief health inequities.